The obvious line for you to try is the Tarrasch Defense. You get an isolated queen's pawn, but very active pieces and some tactical options based around an eventual d5 in many cases. The middlegames are very difficult and tactical. If you want super sharp, I'd say you might consider studying the KID or some lines of the Benko Gambit or perhaps a Benoi, but that requires a lot of theory for a queen's gambit player to learn.

-G

Thanks. I tried the Tarrasch before and have Schiller's book (A Complete Defense to Queen Pawn Openings) but I'm not sure if it's for me - it's an idea though.

I was considering the Slav/Semi Slav. Might that be a good idea? Are there any good introductory books?

Thanks again :)

I want to second Sly's recommendation of Sadler's books on the semi-slav. I play the Semi-slav and it is very enjoyable.

Have you tried the Chigorin? It used to be considered second-class, but recently it has been growing in popularity. It takes a special type of person to enjoy the Chigorin, but you should at least give it a shot to see if you like it.

If you are interested in giving the dutch another look, there is a "hot off the presses" new book written by Sverre of Sverre's Chess Corner.

I want to second Sly's recommendation of Sadler's books on the semi-slav. I play the Semi-slav and it is very enjoyable.

Have you tried the Chigorin? It used to be considered second-class, but recently it has been growing in popularity. It takes a special type of person to enjoy the Chigorin, but you should at least give it a shot to see if you like it.

If you are interested in giving the dutch another look, there is a "hot off the presses" new book written by Sverre of Sverre's Chess Corner.

-David

Thanks David. I'm impressed by Sadler as a writer, so I might get his Semi-Slav book eventually. I'm afraid I'm not one of the special type of people who enjoys the Chigorin! :) Sverre's Chess Corner looks interesting - thanks!

Chessgames, chesslab, created a twic database, and chessok one. Besides couple of books in the queen's gambit and this line is a good alternative to the traditional Bg5.

Chessgames.com is missing a ton of games, so you can’t do an accurate search on scoring lines. I’m using Chessbase and if memory serves it told me the line scores about 20% less for white than Bg5.

And with that I think I’ll opt out of the debate here - it’s been going on for months and I’m fed up now, I think I’ll take Chessbase and Garry’s opinion rather than a few nameless Queens Gambit books you’ve supposedly got this info from :roll: :wink:

A sharp option against d4 is the Grunfeld or Nimzo-Indian Defense. If you're looking to still achieve positions similar to that of the caro-kann, which I'm a fan of, you could opt for a variation which include black moves of d5,c6,Nf6,a6 and b5(a6 and b5 if white plays c4 that is)

Chessgames, chesslab, created a twic database, and chessok one. Besides couple of books in the queen's gambit and this line is a good alternative to the traditional Bg5.

Chessgames.com is missing a ton of games, so you can’t do an accurate search on scoring lines. I’m using Chessbase and if memory serves it told me the line scores about 20% less for white than Bg5.

And with that I think I’ll opt out of the debate here - it’s been going on for months and I’m fed up now, I think I’ll take Chessbase and Garry’s opinion rather than a few nameless Queens Gambit books you’ve supposedly got this info from :roll: :wink:

And chessok and twic also? you are completely biased against this system in irrational ways,why? ...You want references: Mathew Sadler's Queen's Gambit,, Colin Crouch The Queen's Gambit Declined 5. Bf4,Rustem Dautov ChessBase cd trainer Bf4 and others, if you want more information I could quote more information more than your memory search done in your "database"

To be honest I'm really not interested in debating this any longer (in truth I can't understand some of what you're saying because you're English is very broken). I must have said the line doesn’t score as high from a Fritz database about five times and you’re just ignoring me :roll: :lol: We'll just have to agree to differ :)

To be honest I'm really not interested in debating this any longer (in truth I can't understand some of what you're saying because you're English is very broken). I must have said the line doesn’t score as high from a Fritz database about five times and you’re just ignoring me :roll: :lol: We'll just have to agree to differ :)

Don't get personal it clouds the mind. I am trying to explain this line is being played at top level games recently (there are examples even in the recent World Cup)because_____ (you fill the blank)

I started this monster thread a long time ago and I've had a lot of great responses, for which I thank everyone very much. :)

Hopefully the ideas have been helpful to other forum members too. The original discussion seems to wandered somewhat off-topic now (I was interested in a sharp option for a lowly club player like myself). Personally, I'm not bothered about what GM's are playing.

I've decided to play most of my games more sharply, so have settled on the King's Indian. My results have been mixed, but it's certainly more lively than the QGD. 8)

To be honest I'm really not interested in debating this any longer (in truth I can't understand some of what you're saying because you're English is very broken). I must have said the line doesn’t score as high from a Fritz database about five times and you’re just ignoring me :roll: :lol: We'll just have to agree to differ :)

Don't get personal it clouds the mind. I am trying to explain this line is being played at top level games recently (there are examples even in the recent World Cup)because_____ (you fill the blank)

I wasn’t been personal, I was stating a fact that you’re English is a little broken and I can’t make sense of everything you are saying. (and "Don't get personal it clouds the mind??!" You're not a bloody Jedi! :lol:)

And that’s not in dispute, top level GM’s may be playing it - the point I was making (for the umpteenth time) was that in general the line DOESN’T score as high. The only blank here mate is the inside of you’re head :wink: